Hazing Prevention Workshop Ideas

A. Discuss Integrity: Review the definition of hazing with the group. Then review your organizational hazing prevention policy or statement. How does the way you currently educate and welcome new members correspond with the ideals of your organization? How can your group work to make those ideals more of a reality? (Any organization can always stand to improve on this).

You can have group members get into small working groups and brainstorm activities that will help to accomplish the goals of your type of organization or team. For example, what are some non-hazing activities that would work to educate prospective members about community service? Scholarship? Leadership? Some suggestion include participating in non-competitive team-building activities like a low ropes course, planning a community service project for the entire organization to participate in, inviting a community leader to speak about leadership, etc.

B. Forced Choice Discussion Builder: The goal of this exercise is to have members make a choice about where they stand on issues related to hazing. Make five signs labeled as follows Strongly agree, Agree, No opinion, Disagree, Strongly disagree. Hang each sign at a different section of the room. Read a scenario that describes a hazing dilemma (you will have to create these ahead of time). For example, you might choose to describe some hazing scenarios, or myths and facts about hazing. Preface your description with a statement like “The following is NOT an example of hazing” or, “The following is a myth about hazing…” Next, the participants must respond to your statement by physically moving themselves to the section of the room near the sign that represents their opinion (i.e. they agree that it is not hazing, or they disagree and believe it is an example of hazing). Usually participants end up scattered about the room. The facilitator then asks each group to explain their thinking on the issue. Why did you agree or disagree?

C. Hazing Self-Test: Another way to promote awareness and initiate discussion about hazing is to create your own hazing facts self-test. You can use information on the web-site to create your own “quiz” which tests participants’ knowledge about hazing. Since most people are not well-informed about hazing, the laws and myths/facts, this exercise usually prompts lots of discussion.